Effects of Setaria italica on gap junction-mediated intercellular communication for the development of cancer chemopreventive agents

Abstract

Inhibition of gap junction-mediated intercellular communication (GJIC) has been considered as an important factor in the tumor promotion phase of carcinogenesis. Recovery effects of natural products on gap junctional intercellular communication are measured by scrape-loading and dye transfer method using Lucifer yellow after administration of phorbol-12-myristate-13- acetate (PMA) on WB F344 cells. Among tested natural products, the hexane fraction and subfractions (F-01 and F-04) of Setaria italica were relatively effective for recovery of GJIC. The hexane fraction of Setaria italica (EC25, 12.14 μg/ml) and subfractions (F-01: EC50, 10.74 μg/ml; EC25, 1.58 μg/ml, F-04: EC50, 11.03 μg/ml; EC25, 3.12 μg/ml) revealed dose- dependent recovery effects on GJIC. Our data show GJIC activity measurement by Lucifer yellow spread on cells can be an effective tool for the screening of natural products with possible cancer chemopreventive effects.